Description
A man with evil eyes who followed a woman into an underpass in the early hours and sexually attacked her has been jailed for six years and four months.
Judge Rhys Rowlands told attacker Llion Wyn Jones that it was the stuff of nightmares for young women and their families.
The victim, who was aged 20 at the time of the attack, had to give up work and told a court today in a victim impact statement that her life had changed completely following the incident in Bangor.
Jones, 43, of Ashton Terrace, Caernarfon, admitted false imprisonment with intent to commit a sexual offence, after a charge of attempted rape was dropped.
The court heard he grabbed her by the throat, tried to open her underclothing and went to open his own trousers during the attack in Penybryn Road.
But Jones victim kicked him as she feared she was going to lose consciousness, and was able to get away.
Jones laughed as he walked away, the court heard.
Judge Rowlands, sitting at Mold Crown Court, commended the victim for her behaviour from beginning to end.
Prosecuting barrister Elen Owen said that, in the early hours of September 10, the victim was walking home after a night out with friends.
Her boyfriend was due to meet her but she had set off earlier than planned.
As she approached the Skerries public house at the end of the high street, she saw the defendant for the first time, said Miss Owen.
She had never seen him before. He was walking ahead of her and she thought nothing of it initially.
However, she then realised that having turned off the street he was now behind her.
She was on the phone to her boyfriend at the time, told him her concerns and he tried to assure her there was nothing to worry about.
As they approached the underpass, which she described as a tunnel, she thought he was taking a different route so she proceeded into the tunnel, the court heard.
She wouldnt usually dream of going through the dark tunnel alone, said Miss Owen.
She then became aware that the defendant had rushed ahead of her and was glaring at her with - as she describes it - evil eyes.
The defendant threw the food he was carrying and grabbed her, pushing her against a wall, pressing his whole body against hers with all his weight.
Jones managed to turn her phone off while it was in her left hand, said Miss Owen.
He tried to force her down to the floor and the victim described how she was halfway down as his hand was trying to touch her everywhere all over her right side.
Jones tried to get into her clothing, grunting as he did so, and tried undoing his own trousers when he failed to open her clothing.
She shouted help and tried to push him away and kick him.
Jones hold on her throat got tighter and she described how she could not see anything, she couldnt breathe and no sound was coming out despite her trying to shout.
She punched Jones as hard as she could with her right hand to his jaw and he let go of her throat, said Miss Owen.
She managed to unlock her phone and told him her boyfriend was coming.
He was smirking and laughing before he walked away.
She could not move and just stood there gasping for breath, said Miss Owen.
Fortunately, her boyfriend then arrived at the scene.
Arrested and interviewed, Jones said he was very drunk, saw a girl wearing sexy clothing and decided to try his luck with her.
He claimed he asked her for a kiss and grabbed her breast and her buttocks.
In a statement, his victim said that, since the attack, she had difficulty sleeping, had nightmares and flashbacks, had lost her confidence, feared being alone and had to give up her employment.
Following the sentencing, PC John Evans, a victim liaison officer from North Wales Police's Amethyst team, said: "I hope this sentence goes some way to reassure the victim and echoes the words used by the judge that she demonstrated great strength of character in coming forward, standing up to the perpetrator and ensuring that justice was served.
"It should also serve as a warning to perpetrators that these types of crimes will not be tolerated within our community and will be investigated meticulously.
"It is important to reassure victims that North Wales Police will provide the appropriate specialist support to assist them through every stage of an investigation and throughout any subsequent court proceedings."
The Amethyst team provide specialist services to support victims and encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward.
If a victim does not feel ready to report to the police, services can be accessed through the confidential Amethyst SARC helpline on 0808 156 3658.
She was on the phone to her boyfriend at the time, told him her concerns and he tried to assure her there was nothing to worry about.
As they approached the underpass, which she described as a tunnel, she thought he was taking a different route so she proceeded into the tunnel, the court heard.
She wouldnt usually dream of going through the dark tunnel alone, said Miss Owen.
She then became aware that the defendant had rushed ahead of her and was glaring at her with - as she describes it - evil eyes.
The defendant threw the food he was carrying and grabbed her, pushing her against a wall, pressing his whole body against hers with all his weight.
Jones managed to turn her phone off while it was in her left hand, said Miss Owen.
He tried to force her down to the floor and the victim described how she was halfway down as his hand was trying to touch her everywhere all over her right side.
Jones tried to get into her clothing, grunting as he did so, and tried undoing his own trousers when he failed to open her clothing.
She shouted help and tried to push him away and kick him.
Jones hold on her throat got tighter and she described how she could not see anything, she couldnt breathe and no sound was coming out despite her trying to shout.
She punched Jones as hard as she could with her right hand to his jaw and he let go of her throat, said Miss Owen.
She managed to unlock her phone and told him her boyfriend was coming.
He was smirking and laughing before he walked away.
She could not move and just stood there gasping for breath, said Miss Owen.
Fortunately, her boyfriend then arrived at the scene.
Arrested and interviewed, Jones said he was very drunk, saw a girl wearing sexy clothing and decided to try his luck with her.
He claimed he asked her for a kiss and grabbed her breast and her buttocks.
In a statement, his victim said that, since the attack, she had difficulty sleeping, had nightmares and flashbacks, had lost her confidence, feared being alone and had to give up her employment.
Following the sentencing, PC John Evans, a victim liaison officer from North Wales Police's Amethyst team, said: "I hope this sentence goes some way to reassure the victim and echoes the words used by the judge that she demonstrated great strength of character in coming forward, standing up to the perpetrator and ensuring that justice was served.
"It should also serve as a warning to perpetrators that these types of crimes will not be tolerated within our community and will be investigated meticulously.
"It is important to reassure victims that North Wales Police will provide the appropriate specialist support to assist them through every stage of an investigation and throughout any subsequent court proceedings."
The Amethyst team provide specialist services to support victims and encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward.
If a victim does not feel ready to report to the police, services can be accessed through the confidential Amethyst SARC helpline on 0808 156 3658.